Gadgets - SlashGear

‘Gadgets’ Stories

Zune to Get Satellite Radio Features?

Benjamin Nied, Jul 18th 2006 Discuss [0]

Now treat this as purely heresay for the time being, but according to a report filed on Think Secret, Microsoft's upcoming (and still unconfirmed) Zune media player will be getting some attention from satellite radio networks in addition to the Urge music store bundle. Read The Full Story

New Wii-Mote Details Revealed

Ewdison Then, Jul 18th 2006 Discuss [0]

If you're a gamer, chances are that the Nintendo Wii, at the very least, intrigues you. If you're a gamer like me, the very thought of the Virtual Console combined with the Wii's unique control scheme has you counting the days before it finally hits shelves. For those of us who clamor for every piece of information that we can find, some new details have been released about the famous "Wii-mote" controller, answering questions about battery life and operation. Read The Full Story

Pioneer Unveils 50-inch HDTV

Benjamin Nied, Jul 17th 2006 Discuss [0]

HDTVs: they're everywhere! The wave of high-definition television sets descending upon us grows by the day, and Pioneer certainly isn't going to miss this bandwagon. They've unveiled their new Pioneer Elite Pro-FHD1 Plasma TV, which besides having a goofy name clocks in at 50 inches and can scale as high as 1080p. The picture is crisp and clear, thanks in part to the ultra tiny .576 mm pixels on the set, and partially because Pioneer just rocks. Be prepared to take out a second mortgage to acquire one, however; the set itself runs for $10,000. But if you're looking for a 1080p set in a smaller-than-enormous size, then Pioneer is the way to go. [via I4U News]

iWatch: Time for a New iPod

Benjamin Nied, Jul 17th 2006 Discuss [0]

Just in case you're unhappy with how large you MASSIVE iPod nano is, say hello to the iWatch. While this design isn't actually in production at this time, it's an extremely neat concept, featuring 10 GB of music storage and Bluetooth capabilities so users can listen to their music without being physically attatched to their arms (which would look really weird). While I would prefer an adjustable band for those of us with larger-than-normal wrists, you have to admit that the solid white bezel/band looks extremely slick and stylish, as we would expect of an Apple product. Let's hope Apple notices Peter Burns' design so that we may one day enjoy the pleasures of wrist-mounted audio. [via TechEBlog]

Giddy Up Robot

Vincent Nguyen, Jul 17th 2006 Discuss [0]

Robot3 is a Korean company that specialized in designing and building large, fun and almost life-like robots. The coolest robot they have for sale is a four-legged beast called R7. For $5,250 you get a full-size robot with plush seat that you can sit in and ride around. Doesn’t this make you look like you’re sitting on top of the world? I have a better chance of convincing my wife to let me get one if only it was a two seater. Read The Full Story

USB Wireless PC Lock Offers Simple Protection

Benjamin Nied, Jul 14th 2006 Discuss [1]

If you've ever had a computer of yours used when you're not around, you might want to take a look at this nifty little gadget. This two-piece USB Wireless PC Lock activates anytime you move out of range of your computer; the large USB section hooks up to your machine while the smaller tramsmitter is kept in your pocket. Once out of range, the receiver locks your computer until you return within 2 meters of the receiver or until you unlock the machine with your password. Either way, it's a good way to keep those nosey co-workers away from your work. Product Page [via Coolest Gadgets]

d-Media Unveils Ultra-Cool GPS Device

Benjamin Nied, Jul 14th 2006 Discuss [0]

Dammit, why to the Koreans get all the cool toys? Like d-Media's upcoming G4 GPS system, which looks akin to an oddly-redesigned PSP. The successor to the G3, the G4 features a 4-inch touch screen display, a sleek black case, and enough features to make you want to call d-Media and beg for the device to arrive here Stateside (which at this time isn't guaranteed). The built-in Bluetooth allows users to utilize headsets and cell phones with the G4, letting users drive and talk at the same time. Also included are MPEG-4 playback capabilities for movies and an infrared remote for, well, remote-controlling. Again, there's no guarantee that we'll ever see this device in the US, but if mobs of angry nerds have anything to say about it, it'll be here eventually. [via Gizmodo]

ABT DVDO iScan VP20 and VP30 Solves HD Gaming Lag

Benjamin Nied, Jul 14th 2006 Discuss [0]

Gaming in HD: everyone who has it, loves it. Except for one thing...the increased lag. While this isn't a surprising issue (in addition to processing the normal gaming elements, HD consoles also have to translate non-HD signals to HD at the same time), it is one that gamers would like not to deal with. ABT thinks they have the solution: the DVDO iScan VP20 and VP30. These boxes contain video scaling processors designed to help consoles scale up to HD without killing the game itself. The downside to this newfound freedom is the price; the VP20 (with the $400 deinterlacing card included) will run you $1,899, while the higher-end VP30 will cost you $2,198 with the same add-in card. Most gamers would look at that price and faint, but if you're an HD lover who needs to play older consoles on an HD set, then the price might be worth it. [via IGN]

The Bigfoot Killer NIC: When Lag Isn’t an Option

Benjamin Nied, Jul 14th 2006 Discuss [0]

Most of use haven't even considered getting a "better" network interface card (NIC); for many games, their stock 10/100/1000 Mbit onboard NICs do just what they need. But what if that extra 10 ms of lag is throwing off your game? What if you NIC simply can't handle the massive amounts of data you're throwing at it? Well, Bigfoot has the answer. (No, not the monster) Say hello to the Killer NIC, a new PCI-based card that features a 400 MHz Network Processing Unit (NPU) and 64 MB of dedicated RAM. Read The Full Story

PS3 Production Experiences More Issues

Ewdison Then, Jul 14th 2006 Discuss [0]

More bad news for the upcoming Playstation 3 and anyone looking to buy one. Already hit by Cell processor yield problems, the companies manufacturing the new console are reportedly also having issues with the Blu-ray drives, which could lead to fewer launch units or a launch delay. In addition, the Cell processor yield issues previously reported have apparently not changed with time, with Sony only getting a 10-to-20 percent yield on their new processors. Read The Full Story

Nintendo Announces VoIP Headset for DS

Benjamin Nied, Jul 13th 2006 Discuss [0]

VoIP is one of the hottest technologies around today, and it hasn't escaped Nintendo's attention. Having already announced technology in the Wii-mote for possible VoIP capabilities, Nintendo has now announced a VoIP headset for their mega-popular Nintendo DS handhelds. Available from Amazon.co.uk, the headset will run you around $23 USD (£12.99), but requires a VoIP-capable game, like Metroid Prime: Hunters. Hopefully we'll see a few more VoIP-capable games by the headset's September 15th release date, because screaming at your friends during Metroid is only fun for so long. Plus, we're willing to bet that a homebrewed DS port of some sort of VoIP software will pop up eventually.... Amazon.co.uk Product Page [via Video Games Blogger]

Ninjapass: Play Homebrew on your DS!

Benjamin Nied, Jul 13th 2006 Discuss [0]

It's little things like this that make me glad to be a nerd. Say hello to the Ninjapass DS Flash system, a nifty little 64 MB card that sllows you to - GASP! - run homebrewed content on your Nintendo DS. While the PSP requires a number of firmware downgrades in order to allow for homebrew capabilities (though these downgrades admittedly don't cost anything unless you fry your PSP), the Ninjapass system just plugs into your Nintendo DS's slot and runs, requiring no modification to the actual system. Read The Full Story